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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2019
volume
119,
issue
NEWS
OPINION
LIFE&ARTS
SPORTS
Students develop software for NASA satellite that is launching to space today. PA G E 3
Students need to balance career-prep and life outside of work. PA G E 4
UT alum talks screenwriting for “SHAZAM!” and time as a student. PA G E 8
Longhorns respond to dropping out of the rankings with a convincing win. PA G E 6
UNIVERSITY
UT gives Texas Cowboys one more week to decide on six-year ban
138
CAMPUS
April showers to May flowers
By Lisa Nhan @lmnhan24
The Texas Cowboys have received an extension from the Office of the Dean of Students on their decision to accept a six-year suspension, appeal or request a formal hearing, UT communications strategist Shilpa Bakre said in an email. The Cowboys were originally supposed to reach a decision by yesterday, but the student group requested an extension and now has until April 24. “The Office of the Dean of Students granted this request as extensions have been granted in the past with other student organizations,” Bakre said in an email. The Cowboys, the spirit group famous for firing “Smokey the Cannon,” were suspended for six years following a hazing investigation into their fall initiation retreat. The University found evidence of hazing during their retreat and in past semesters, including physical brutality, animal cruelty, forced ingestion of unwanted substances and coerced consumption of alcohol, according to the report. The investigation began last November at the Cumberland family’s request after their son Nicky suffered fatal injuries in a car crash on the way back from the retreat in the early morning of Sept. 30. The Cumberlands were told by Cowboys who attended the retreat that members had been hazed prior to leaving the retreat. The crash, which occurred at 5:43 a.m., was a result of the driver falling asleep at the wheel, according to the crash report. The University investigation did not find enough evidence to determine if sleep deprivation, in the form of hazing, caused the crash.
blaine young
It’s that time again: UT Landscape Services plants more than $6,000 worth of annual flowers across campus each spring. By Mason Carroll @MasonCCarroll
pril showers bring May flowers, but not without the help of UT’s Landscape Services, who hand plant the colorful flowers around popular campus locations each year, such as the Littlefield Fountain. Landscape Services manager Jim Carse said the end of February to May is their busiest time of the year. They control annual falling leaves, replant certain areas around campus and prepare for commencement. “We’re kind of all over the place on campus right now,” Carse said. “(Replanting is) always exciting because that’s the … picture-taking areas that we can really show off some nice color flowers.”
The annual operating cost for Landscape Services is about $250,000. Carse said they purchase more than $6,000 worth of colorful flowers each spring. This does not include Dell Medical School or J.J. Pickle Research Campus, which Landscape Services also oversee. In about a week, Carse said they will begin planting the annual colored flowers. He said he is thankful for the job he has, because he can see the immediate results of his labor and have a lasting impact. “It’s a gratifying job, but you also know that if you take care of (landscape such as trees), it’ll just get prettier with time,” Carse said. “It makes me feel great. It’s not always easy, and it’s a lot of hard work, but we get a lot of support.” Carse said they are also always trying to think about sustainability
and long-term investments including water conservation and planting new trees around campus. “We’re always striving to have (new landscapes) be more maintainable and more sustainable,” Carse said. “We only want native plants and native trees planted, and we want them planted in a way that we’re not wasting water.” Nick Montiel, geological sciences graduate student, said he had not heard of the conservation efforts Landscape Services is making, but he thinks it’s important for the future of the University and environment. “It’s important because taking care of the landscaping and the Earth for multiple generations is a key perspective and action to take,” Montiel said. “It’s really, really important to our University, country
STATE
and the planet.” Chemical engineering sophomore Teresa Soisson said she appreciated the work Carse and his team do for campus because she, like many other students, spends her time outside on campus to de-stress. “It’s just nice to be able to sit outside and enjoy how beautiful our campus looks and not have to worry about class for a little bit,” Soisson said. “It’s also important to have a good looking campus for visitors and possible future students touring.” Carse said students can do their part to keep campus looking clean by doing small things that make a big difference, such as throwing away their trash, taking the
LANDSCAPE
3
International students contribute to economy By Tehya Rassman
By Libby Cohen
@tehyarassman
@libbycohen211
jacky tovar
need to go about it from another angle,” Ford said. Stickland said he was adamant on continuing forward with bills like HB 357. “I remain committed to the policy and protecting your second amendment rights,” Stickland said in a statement. However, anti-gun activists are celebrating the failure of this bill as a win for stronger gun reform. Selina Eshraghi, chemical engineering and radio-television-film sophomore, said she advocated against this bill at the start of the legislative session with March For Our Lives-Austin. “It’s concerning to us in the gun
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CAMPUS
Texas Rep withdraws Constitutional Carry bill, sparks gun control debate After an activist went to homes of lawmakers, state Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, withdrew House Bill 357 last week, which would allow Texans to openly carry a handgun without a permit. Chris McNutt, executive director of Texas Gun Rights, posted on social media his intentions to visit lawmakers’ homes to advocate for HB 357 after the bill was left languishing in committee. He was intercepted by state troopers when he arrived at House Speaker Dennis Bonnen’s home. Stickland said one reason he withdrew the bill was because he did not want to condone this extreme form of advocacy. “Advocating for issues and bills are not only a good thing but it is the duty of every liberty-loving Texan,” Stickland said in a Facebook video. “With that being said, there is a right way and a wrong way to influence the legislative process. It is never okay to target their homes or personal businesses.” While many bills fail in the legislative process, this constitutional carry bill highlights the consequences when political advocacy crosses the line. Government junior James Ford said similar bills are possible in Texas if advocates show their support in better ways. “Considering the bill was withdrawn due to external approaches, people
| the daily texan staff
Landscape Services manager Jim Carse said that Landscape Services purchase more than $6,000 worth of colorful flowers each year.
| the daily texan staff
violence community that the bill was only shut down after politicians were personally threatened,” Eshraghi said. “However, having a victory under our belts keeps those of us advocating for gun violence prevention bills going.” Eshraghi said the most important outcome of the bill’s failure is the message it sends to citizens about the power of proper advocacy. “Part of being a good advocate is respecting the politicians you are talking to,” Eshraghi said. “I really hope this very clear breach of privacy helps shine a light on what an average constituent can do in the sense of advocating at the Capitol and calling their representatives.”
During the 2017–18 academic school year, UT international students contributed $221.7 million to the U.S. economy, which helped support 3,160 jobs, according to the NAFSA: International Student Economic Value Tool. NAFSA is a nonprofit association of international educators. Rachel Banks, NAFSA public policy director, said there are three avenues through which international students have contributed greatly to the economy. “International students typically pay higher, out-of-state tuition rates to attend college. They are also not eligible for financial aid,” Banks said in an email. “International students also contribute to innovation. Nearly one-quarter of the founders of $1 billion U.S. startup companies first came to America as international students.” According to the International Office, UT has 6,043 international students. International students from China are the largest group within UT’s total international population with 1,504 students. Keyun Li, a psychology and rhetoric and writing senior from Beijing, said it is common knowledge in China that studying
in the United States costs a lot. In-state students can pay up to $5,926 per semester in undergraduate tuition, while Li said she pays more than $19,000 per semester. “To study in the States, it’s expensive in general,” Li said. “People will apply for scholarships, for sure, because nobody wants
Nearly one-quarter of the founders of $1 billion U.S. startup companies first came to America as international students.” RACHEL BANKS
NAFSA PUBLIC POLICY DIRECTOR
to pay huge amounts of money if they can pay less. But for my family, it’s acceptable. It’s in the plan, but it may be a burden for some families.” Undergraduate international students are not likely to receive any funding from UT, partially because they are not eligible for
RESEARCH
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